Should U.S. President Barack Obama visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki when he comes to Japan in November?

Sunday 18th October, 03:43 AM JST

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USNinJapan2 at 05:00 PM JST - 20th October

yabits

U.S. hypocrisy may be seen at the root of what initally forced another nation to adopt that which is viewed as "unrealistic and impractical" for itself.

If by 'another nation' we're talking about Japan then again this oh-so-noble rejection of war is only possible because of its strongest ally's pursuit of hegemony. Can't have one without the other.
tanglewood at 07:42 PM JST - 20th October

I have no problems with Obama apologizing to yet another nation, it's clear now that the act of doing so is all about him.

Go to Hiroshima and Nagasaki - and then to Kyoto, to tell the world and ignorant American libs that this is the city where Japan's Manhattan Project was established.
yabits at 09:22 PM JST - 20th October

If by 'another nation' we're talking about Japan then again this oh-so-noble rejection of war is only possible because of its strongest ally's pursuit of hegemony. Can't have one without the other.

Completely false.
mechadamuramu at 12:41 AM JST - 21st October

USN: I agree with what you say. Japan and S. Korea have the full backing of the US military. Without it you might have seen both sides be a lot more agressive over the last 60 years. Its a great deal for Japan considering they don't have to "waste" billions of dollars on their military like the US does. All that money can go back into infrastructure or lower taxes

To use an analogy you don't have to fight on the playground if your bigger brother does your fighting for you.
anthony39 at 04:18 AM JST - 21st October

Of course he can visit, and state that America would do exactly the same (use overwhelming military power) again if Japan EVER needs reminding that its arrogant, cruel & brutal expansion will never be tolerated by a free world.
Suzu1 at 10:43 AM JST - 21st October

Obama will go to Hiroshima and deliver a speech about himself.
dammit at 03:36 PM JST - 21st October

Only if he wants to.

But if he wants to show the world (or just Japan) what he'd do to Japan if it got

arrogant, cruel and brutal

then he can always demonstrate his determination on anthony39. I'm sure he'd be glad to help. After all, he's obviously a concerned citizen.
Triple888 at 09:44 PM JST - 21st October

I was going to choose "yes" - Obama should visit. But then today some Japanese politicians visited the shrine. Then I was instantly reminded about WW2 and what Japan did to human beings. I selected "no" - Obama should not visit those places.
NeoJamal at 11:13 PM JST - 21st October

The US should not feel any guilt about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as much as the Japanese should over how the rape of Nanking served as an effective population control in China.
WMD at 06:53 AM JST - 22nd October

Oh god, japan with it's poor victim us again. Nauseating, is there no end to it? Let the emperor go to Nanking first to atone for japan's bloodthirsty savagery first.
anthony39 at 07:57 AM JST - 22nd October

To dammit...

not particularly a concerned citizen, just one flabbergasted and appalled at the victim card been waved by anyone expecting an apology over the atomic bombing of japan.

Japan needed telling, and 2 atomic bombs on civilian populations were the only way to make Japan listen. Tragic, but necessary to make an arrogant people kowtow.
Hephatsheput at 04:40 AM JST - 24th October

Obama should go there and say, "We did what we did to save you from yourselves. It's too bad that people had to die, but blame lies with the former leadership of your country. Get over it. Grow up."
Blue_Tiger at 07:57 PM JST - 24th October

Visit, yes; apologize for the bombs, no (but he probably will)...
Disillusioned at 09:48 PM JST - 24th October
I don't think he should go anywhere near either city. When was the last time a Japanese Prime Minister went to Pearl Harbor?
- If he does go I would like to see him give a real speech stating how the Japanese got what was coming to them and they were lucky to get off so lightly. If they hadn't surrendered when they did they would all be speaking Russian by now.
Sarge at 10:10 PM JST - 24th October

Disillusioned at 9:48 PM - That's not going to happen. Heck, if Bush Sr. didn't give that speech, Barack Obama surely isn't going to.